H.—29b.

28

If the quality of any seed is suspected a sample may be sent to the seed laboratory at Ottawa or Calgary for lest. These laboratories are maintained for the services of seed-merchants and farmers. Go-operative Organization. Co-operation is the watchword throughout the farming communities of the west, and for many years past the members of many of the local grain-growers' associations have joined together to purchase such lines as binder-twine, building and fencing material, flour, feed, and so on. But attention is being paid officially to the proper form of business co-operation to be adopted by farmers, and the tendency is towards non-profit corporations, as the result of organizing so-called co-operative associations under the usual stock corporation laws leads to the passing of these institutions into the hands of non-producers or of rival interests, while one of the everpresent difficulties is that the stockholders generally demand an unusual interest on the capital paid in, taking it, huge dividend before returning the proceeds to the growers. It is maintained that membership in a co-operative organization should be confined exclusively to those who are producers and who as producers use its facilities.. It should never include those who contribute capital alone, ami a fundamental principle should be " one man one vote." The outcome of a co-operative organization formed to handle the grower's product will succeed or fail on the skill and integrity with which flic product is harvested, handled, graded, and packed, and a uniform standard of quality in the brands shipped by an association is fundamental to success. Every form of rural organization is being encouraged and written about. One plan that seems to find favour with educationists is the division of rural needs into, say, ten different headings, and the setting-up of a committee to deal with each particular phase of rural improvement, This is, of course, a very comprehensive programme, which could not be given effect hi unless there was a need for organization towards a definite end. Meanwhile there is a gradual finding-out of the best lines on which co-operative organization can go safely forward, and the results are reflected in the large number of farmers' mutual insurance companies, co-operative creameries, and cheese-factories, co-operative elevators, and so on. There have been conspicuous failures as well as successes, and there is need for a permanent body of some kind lo begin a comprehensive study of the whole problem, and keep a permanent record of successes and failures. Agricultural associations in British Columbia are incorporated under an Act which also provides for advances to settlers through an Agricultural Credit Commission. The Act provides for the incorporation of all co-operative farmers' institutes, co-operative women's institutes, fruitgrowers' associations, agricultural fairs associations, stock-breeders' associations, dairymen's associations, and poultrymen's associations, as well as farmers' institutes. Power is taken by the Parliament to set aside money each year for farmers' institutes and women's institutes, the subsidy being, roughly, 2s. a head of membership for the first hundred and Is. a head for membership above that number. Power is given to municipalities to grant money in aid of any duly appointed farmers' institute. The Minister of Agriculture is also empowered to pay lo each association formed under the Act such moneys as he thinks fit. Power is also given to incorporate any twenty-five persons with share capital for any purpose approved by the Minister and having for its object the development of agriculture, and these associations may group themselves together in district exchanges, the objects of which, as defined by the Act, are " to develop and improve the industries of agriculture and horticulture by the introduction of improved methods, the supplying of agricultural requirements on the best terms by economizing in the marketing of agricultural produce and stock, by carrying on the business of dealers and agents, and by doing all things necessary or expedient for the accomplishing of its objects." Provision is also made for the creation of a central exchange for the province. Marketing Organization. —Funds are set aside by the United States Government for an Office of Markets and Rural Organization, whose sole work is the "collection and distribution of useful information on subjects relating to the marketing and distributing of farm-products" and the study of co-operatiou among farmers. As far as possible the marketing problems are being studied from the points of view of producer, dealer, and consumer. A. large part of the rural investigations has consisted in a study of the work of rural-credit associations. The individual grower frequently finds that working alone ho is unable to do certain things which economically are essential. Therefore a general demand for co-operative effort has arisen. The investigations of the office to this end include a study of buying and selling organizations in America and elsewhere, and the reason for success or failure. Experiments tire being made to ascertain the advantages of direct dealing between organized producers and organized consumers in such commodities as eggs, poultry, butter, fruit, and vegetables. Suggestions are given regarding co-operative organizations, where they are warranted, and how they should be organized, with forms on constitution and by-laws, incorporation, control, and management. It is hoped that through such organizations production may be adapted to meet market requirements, waste may be eliminated, brands and trade-marks established, special local products advertised, special transportation used, new markets discovered and old ones extended, methods as to securing information as to crop and market conditions devised, by-products utilized, cold and common storage facilities obtained, and the holding of crops financed, supplies purchased, equipment and material secured and used, and all the advantages and economics gained that, accrue to enterprises that are conducted on a large scale. The marketing of agricultural products is being put on a businesslike foundation by the Office of Markets, which is paying particular attention to office organization, accounting systems, methods of auditing, office appliances and equipment, and plans of financing. Systems of accounts tire being devised for various types of organizations and other agencies, and after a